**NDAA includes a pay raise for military members**

**Kuster priorities and provisions to address military sexual assault, support New Hampshire jobs, fight opioid epidemic included in final legislation**

Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, applauded passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included important New Hampshire provisions advocated for by Kuster. The legislation includes a Kuster measure which will help to address what the military calls “collateral misconduct” – violations of military rules committed by sexual assault survivors, which are often minor offenses and serve as a barrier for survivors to come forward.

The NDAA also increases pay for our military members, includes provisions to help combat the opioid epidemic, increases funding for the study of PFAS requested by Kuster, and includes funding for the Virginia Class Submarine and F-35 programs which will support jobs in New Hampshire.

“This bipartisan funding measure includes important provisions that will benefit our men and women in uniform, bolster our national security, and support jobs in New Hampshire,” said Kuster. “We ask so much of our service members and I’m glad that this legislation will provide a well-deserved pay raise. The NDAA we passed also will strengthen interdiction and drug-trafficking efforts to help tackle the opioid epidemic. In addition, I’m pleased my provision to address long standing barriers that have prevented survivors of military sexual assault from coming forward and seeking justice was included.”

The NDAA includes:

Pay Increase

The Conference Report provides a 2.6 percent pay increase to our troops. Each year, Congress provides our servicemembers with a pay increase and this increase is the largest since 2010.

Addressing Sexual Violence

The Conference Report authorizes the first-ever study of its kind into the impact of “collateral misconduct” in addressing sexual assault in the military. Collateral misconduct is misconduct that is discovered during the investigation of a sexual assault. Often minor, the Defense Department’s own policy considers this to be a significant barrier to addressing sexual assault in the military. Kuster advocated for this provision and after Kuster led a letter to conferees requesting inclusion of the study, the Conference Committee agreed.

Combating the Nation’s Opioid Epidemic

The Conference Report authorizes an additional $20 million to the National Guard’s counter-drug program which supports federal, state, and local agencies in drug interdiction and anti-trafficking efforts. The additional $20 million is intended to support efforts to combat opioid trafficking. Additionally, the bill would establish a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program within the Military Health System that would share information on opioids and other drugs to State programs. This program is similar to Kuster-led law that improved the information shared to States by VA’s own PDMP program.

PFAS Health Study

The bill authorizes funding for a comprehensive PFAS health impact study, which Kuster supported in the House. After Kuster joined a letter to the NDAA conferees requesting $10 million in support of the study, the Conference Committee agreed.

Virginia-class submarines

The bill would provide $4.35 billion for the production of two Virginia-class submarines. Not only are these submarines a crucial component to U.S. maritime security, but they support New Hampshire-wide economic activity in both the construction and repair of these submarines. Kuster has advocated for the construction of additional Virginia-class submarines.

F-35

The bill would support over $7 billion for the production of additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. These fighters are the centerpiece of America’s air superiority in defense of U.S. interests and in support of our troops deployed abroad. Kuster advocacy of this program supports U.S. national security and jobs in Nashua and across the state.

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